Motorsport: Fans injured in NASCAR crash

Kyle Larson (32) and his Chevrolet end up in the fence during the final lap crash at the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

At least 28 fans and one driver were injured after a
multi-car crash at the Daytona speedway when car debris flew
into the crowd near the end of the Nationwide NASCAR race.

Race officials said 14 fans were sent to nearby hospitals,
with another 14 being treated at the Florida speedway, which
will host the prestigious Daytona 500 race on Sunday.

Driver Michael Annett of the Richard Petty Motorsports team
was being treated at the Halifax Health Medical Center in
Daytona Beach and would be kept for observation, the team
said in a statement.

Joie Chitwood, president of the Daytona International
Speedway, said Sunday's main race would go ahead despite the
incident.

"Following the incident, we responded appropriately according
to our safety protocols and had emergency medical personnel
at the incident immediately.

"We transported 14 people off property and 14 were treated at
our on-track care center. We are in the process of repairing
the facility, and we will be ready to go racing tomorrow,"
added Chitwood.

Debris from the 10-car crash flew into the spectator area and
amid chaotic scenes, some fans were taken away on stretchers.

The crash sent driver Kyle Larson's car airborne, although he
climbed out of the wreckage afterward unhurt.

Dayton Police Department spokesman Jimmie Flynt said 11
people were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center, two of
them with serious injuries, and one patient to Florida
Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach. Florida
Hospital spokeswoman Lindsay Rew said three more patients
were expected there.

Annett was transported to a hospital after complaining of
pain in his chest and sternum and was treated for bruising on
his chest and underwent a CT Scan.

NASCAR's vice president of race operations, Steve O'Donnell,
said that the fencing, which was ripped through by the flying
debris, was being replaced and the incident would be
reviewed.

"We're very confident that we'll be ready for tomorrow's
event with the 55th running of the Daytona, but as with any
of these incidents, we'll conduct a thorough review, we'll
work closely with the tracks as we do for all our events,
learn what we can and see what we can apply in the future,"
he said.

Tony Stewart won the race on Saturday, which is the
curtain-raiser for American stock car racing's biggest event
on Sunday, which will feature Danica Patrick as the first
woman to start on the pole position.